Mystery deepens into violent death of 'simple, religious' grandfather by lake in Queens park 72%
By Rocco Parascandola58% Colin Mixson68%
5/20/2026, 2:43:49 PM
Topics: Crime And Public Safety
BS Summary: This article contains 24 faulty reasoning types, including Anecdotal, Appeal to Emotion, and Halo Effect, with Unattributed Quote as the most egregious example at 24.2% saturation with 174 hits. Analysis detected 1,454 faulty-reasoning hits from 719 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 64.9% and a BS Rank of 72% (4,797 of 16,813 articles). This article is worse (more manipulative) than 71.50% of the article peer group.
As the mystery deepens into the killing of a 75-year-old grandfather and retired baker found by a lake in a Queens park suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his neck and back, heartbroken friends said the victim died just two weeks after losing his wife to illness, the Daily News has learned.
The lifeless body of Albert Itzkowtiz was discovered near Kissena Lake in Kissena Park shortly before 5 p.m.
Monday.
He had been shot repeatedly, cops said, leaving friends and family wondering who would want to harm a "simple, religious" man grieving the loss of his longtime spouse.
"The family is in the early stages of mourning and we've had a couple of tough days," said a friend of the victim, who declined to share his name.
"Just two and a half weeks ago, he lost his wife."
Izkowitz's neighbor, Daniel Khaimov, said the retired baker's death has shocked the close knit community of Kew Gardens Hills, where he lived.
"It's a mystery," Khaimov said.
"We know he was shot, but we do not know what happened."
An autopsy concluded that Itzkowitz died of gunshot wounds to the neck and torso.
His death was ruled a homicide, a spokeswoman for the city Medical Examiner said.
It was unclear if Itzkowitz was targeted or the victim of random violence.
"This unspeakable violence in Kissena Park is an intolerable tragedy," Councilman James Gennaro (D-Queens) said on Facebook.
"No one should fear for their safety while enjoying our parks or walking in our neighborhoods.
I have been in contact with the NYPD at the highest levels about this murder, and I have been assured that all possible resources have been deployed on this case in order to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice as soon as possible."
Since no weapon was found at the scene, detectives knew his death was suspicious, but have been hampered by the remote location where Itzkowitz was found, a police source with knowledge of the case said.
That section of the park was far from any surveillance cameras and no one actually witnessed the killing.
He lived more than two miles away from where he was shot, cops said.
Itzkowitz, a longtime Hatzolah volunteer, owned Mendy's Bakery on Main St., around the corner from his home, but he had sold the business more than 15 years ago, neighbors said.
He was often seen going back and forth to his synagogue, which was across the street from his home.
"I lived there 25 years, he lived here longer than us," Khaimov said.
"He was very nice, him and his wife.
I would see him at the temple near his home and I would greet him."
Although he sold his business years ago, he would often be found on Main St., shopping in his former store, which is now a Holy Schnitzel franchise.
"This was his bakery years and years ago," Eric Ilyau, manager of Holy Schnitzel, told The News Wednesday.
"They would get a big order and take the food home like every Sunday.
(He would get) the kids and everyone together."
Shortly before his wife passed away, Itzkowitz and his son showed up, asking to take a tour of the back of the eatery, Ilyau said.
"I gave the father a tour and tears came down his eyes," Ilyau remembered.
"He's an older man and remembered this was his business."
"Albert would always smile and would say, 'Thank you, you're bringing my memories back,'" he added.
Stunned that Itzkowitz was a victim of foul play, friends said they have no idea why the quiet religious man would be targeted.
"There was a crime.
What was the motive for the crime?"
the friend said.
"This is very not known yet."
After selling his business, Itzkowitz still worked in the food industry, where he ensured Jewish cuisine met Kosher standards, but had taken time off work in recent months to care for his ailing wife, friends said.
"He was a dedicated, simple religious man, who it was a pleasure to be around," the victim's friend said.
"One of the rabbis in the neighborhood told me today that he prayed with such piety."
"I'm hoping it's not anti-Semitism, because if it is, we're all in trouble."
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